Eaves trough shank



Patented Apr. 27, 1948 ES F j 2.4411523 I EAVES Tannersneak HenryE. Usinger, Pitman, N. i, assignor' to Ber gel Bros. Cbmpany, Philadelphia, Pa, acorporationof Pennsylvania Application September 12, 1944, 'S'erialNoQ553J725 This invention relates to an nnproved gutter supporting shank and method of making:

As is well: known, in the roofing art the usual hanging gutter for the collection of rainwater running off the roof is supported by means or a so-called shank to which is attached a circle on which the gutter rests.

The shank, in one form, comprises a plate p0rtion adapted to lie on and be secured to the deck or sheathing of a roof beneath the roof covering, as it may be covered with slate, wood or composition shingles, or other forms of covering, and a stem portion to which the circle is secured.

In shanks of the type indicated the plate portion and stem portion extend at an angle so that the plate portion will lie upon the'roof deck and the stem portion will extend Vertically.

It is customary to form shanks from channel stock which, without working, provides a desirable grooved stem for engagement with the circle in order to prevent the circle from turning with reference to the stem when it is secured thereto with a single bolt, as is customary; and, at the same time, the channel form of the plate allows the securing nails to be driven down below the side flanges so as to avoid the possibility of the roof covering resting on the nail heads with consequent injury.

Channel stock is also desirable for the formation of shanks since it is readily available in convenient lengths.

In the formation of a shank from channel stock, it is necessary not only to bend the stock so that the plates and stem portions will extend at an angle, but it is also necessary to twist the stock locally at the bend in order that plate and stem will extend in planes substantially at right angles to the end that the fiat portion of the plate will lie on the roof deck and that the channel portion of the stem will be properly presented for engagement with a circle.

Shanks of channel stock as heretofore formed have, due to necessary localized twist in them, been substantially weaker than the circles and while of adequate strength for the support of gutters in carrying off rain water, they have failed under the considerable weight of ice and snow by bending back at the bend, causing the gutter to twist and to be bent down and out of practical use.

One of the advantages of the ordinary channel stock is its relative softness, which makes it easy to work into a shank, as by bending, twisting and punching or boring. However, this facility is responsible for the inherent weakness noted with 1 era-tin. (01. 248-481) 2 I respect to shanks formed of such stock. While a shank of increased strength might be produced by the use of a sufficiently hard'c'hannel stock, such would be too hard for the performance of the necessary forming operations.

In accordance with this invention there pro-' vided a shank, of the type indicated, formed from channel stock, sufliciently soft to be readily worked, and which will have greatly increased strength in the area of twist joining the plate and stem sections, so that the shank will retain the advantages of the channel section with avoidance of the disadvantage in prior channel shanks of insunicient strength.

Further, in accordance with this invention, there is provided a simple and eiflcient method of producing the novel sh'ank.

Having now indicated, in a general way, the nature and purpose of this invention and its distinction from the prior art, I will proceed to a description of preferred procedure according to the method embodying this invention for the production of a preferred form of shank embodying the invention, all with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a bored blank of channel section for the formation of a shank.

Figure 2 is a view showing the blank of Figure 1 at an intermediate stage of construction with the flanges of the channel section forced in and over together in the area joining the plate and stem sections.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views of a completed. shank embodying this invention.

In the drawings the blank A (Fig. 1) of channel stock having the side flanges a, 11, comprises a plate section i and a stem section 2. The plate section is bored or punched as at 3 for the passage of means for securing it to a roof deck, while a series of holes 4, 4 are bored or punched in the stem section to enable the usual form of circle to be bolted to it. The series of holes 4, 4 enables the successive circles in a series supporting a gutter to be supported at different heights in order to give the gutter a fall, for example, to a leader or downtake. B indicates the area joining the plate and stem portions.

For the formation of a shank by the method of this invention the flanges a. in the area B joining the plate and stem sections are forced in and over toward each other as shown at a, Figure 2, so that externally the area B assumes a somewhat circular contour flowing at its ends into the plate section and into the stem section.

The flanges a in the section B may be forced in and over by dieing, peening, or in any other suitable manner.

Finally, the blank when formed as shown in Figures 2 and 3 is twisted in the area B, so that the flanges a of the plate and stem sections extend from the web I) of the stock in planes at right angles and are bent to the desired angle between theplate and stem sections to produce the finished shank shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The finished shank will be characterized by the fact that the metal of the channel stock and, more particularly, the metal of the flanges, instead of being merely twisted and bent will be consolidated and hardened by the forcing or peening of the flanges together in the area of twist and bend, with subsequent twisting, with the result that the hereofore weak area joining the plate and stem sections will be greatly parting from the scope of the claim appended hereto.

WhatI claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: r

A gutter supporting shank formed from channel stock into a plate and stem, the channel stock intermediate its ends being bent into tubular form with the edges of the flanges in substantial contact, said tubular portion bent so that the plate and stem will be at an angle to each other and twistedrso that the Webs of the channel section portions in the platejand stem will extend at right angles to each other.

HENRY E. USINGER.

REFERENCES CITED 'The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS :1 7

Number Name 1 Date 808,736 Einfeldt Jan. 2, 1906 1,554,778 Berger Sept. 22, 1925 1,824,570 Rachlin Sept. 22, 1931 2,199,436 Lazarides May 7, 1940 2,246,247 Godshalk June 17, 1941 2,365,972 Rachlin Dec. 26, 1944 2,365,973 Rachlin Dec. 26, 1944 

